Cushioned heel construction



June 3, 1958 c. A. WINDLE CUSHIONED HEEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 8, 1957Carl A. Wind/e IN V EN TOR.

Patented June 3 19-5 (All CUSHIONED HEEL CONSTRUCTION Carl A. Windle,Los Angeles, Calif.

Application August 8, 1957, Serial No. 676,988

10 Claims. (Cl. 3638) This invention comprises a novel and usefulcushioned heel construction and more particularly relates to a shockabsorbing heel particularly applicable to womens spike or high heeledshoes, and constitutes an improvement over the subject matter disclosedin my co-pending applications Serial Nos. 572,153, filed March 16, 1956,now Patent No. 2,807,100, issued September 24, 1957, and 635,736, filedJanuary 23, 1957.

The general object of this invention is to provide a shock absorbing orcushioning heel construction especially adapted for use with high heelconstructions such as those of women shoes, cowboy boots and the like.In general, this object is attained by a heel construction having acylindrical bore in the lower end thereof receiving a verticallyslidable piston or plunger having adjustable cushioning means forresiliently urging the plunger downwardly, together with a novel heelcap mounting construction at the lower end of the plunger.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a cushioned heelconstruction in accordance with the preceding object wherein thevertically resiliently reciprocable plunger carrying the heel cap has ahighly effective journaling and guiding action of the plunger; animproved adjusting means for the resilient cushioning spring; togetherwith a novel sealing construction preventing the ingress of water orother material between the plunger and its cylindrical bore; and animproved construction for securing the heel cap to the bottom of theplunger.

A still further and more specific object of the invention is to providea cushioned heel construction in accordance with the preceding objectsin which convenient access means is provided in the bottom shoe at theheel portion thereof for obtaining access to the cushioning spring foradjusting the tension of the same; and to provide cushioning andsilencing means for reducing any noise of operation of the cushioningconstruction.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully herein after described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section through a portion of the shoeheel incorporating therein the novel cushioning construction of thisinvention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view from the right side ofFigure 1 showing the lower end of the heel and of the cushioning plungerand heel cap mounted thereon;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the plunger and itsadjustable cushioning means;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon theplane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon theplane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure l.

Referring first to Figure 1 it will be seen that a portion of the shoe1i) has been illustrated to which is secured a high heel 12 andincorporationg therein the cushioned heel construction of thisinvention.

The heel 12 may be of any suitable material, comprising a body memberwhich extends downwardly and is downwardly convergent and tapering toprovide a vertically elongated body 14. Spening upwardly from the lowerend of the body is a central bore or passage 16 in which is slidablyreceived the plunger 18 as set forth hereinafter. The upper end of thebody is hollow, providing a chamber 2% in which extends an upstandingcylindrical sleeve or projection 22 having an internally threaded bore 2at its upper end in which is received a combined closure plug and springadjusting means 26. The upper end of the body is provided with a topwall 28 which is contoured to lit the bottom surface of the heel seat ofthe shoe, this top wall being preferably provided with a plurality ofupstanding internally threaded tubular bosses 36 adapted to receivefastening screws 52 extending through the heel portion of the sole ofthe shoe whereby the heel may be secured thereto.

in the top wall 23 of the body of the heel there is provided an accessopening 34 which in turn is covered by a closure plate 36, access towhich may be had from the interior of the shoe for a purpose to becomesubsequently apparent.

At its lower end, and upon the breast portion thereof the heel portion14 is provided with a vertically extending slot 48 opening upwardly fromthe lower end thereof for a purpose to be subsequently set forth. Aswill be apparent from Figure l, the upstanding sleeve 22 has an internaldiameter or bore 42 which is somewhat greater than that of the bore 16to thus provide an annular shoulder 44 therebetween.

From a comparison of Figures 3 and 4 it will be apparent that theplunger 13 and the bore 16 are U-shaped rather than circular incross-section, the plunger having a generally flat wall 45 complementaryto the corresponding portion of the bore 16 whereby rotation of theplunger there is prevented. It will be observed that the vertical edgeswhere the fiat portion 46 joins the curved portion of the plunger sidewall are rounded as at 48 in order to reduce friction and any tendencyof the plunger to bind in its bore during reciprocation of the plungertherein.

t its upper end plunger 18 is provided with internally threaded bore Sitwhich receives the externally threaded depending extension 52 of a plate54. The latter has upwardly projecting cylindrical boss 56 whichconstitutes a retainer and a guide for the lower end of the compressionspring 58 whose upper end is received against the lower side of the plug26 and is guided upon the V cylindrical depending extension or boss 6thereon. Preferably the plug 26 upon its top surface is provided with akerf or notch 62 for engagement by a scr W-driver extended through theopening 34 when the flap 36 is raised whereby the compression or tensionupon the spring 58 may be regulated.

As will be apparent from Figure l, a gasket or resilient ring 64 isinserted beneath the plate 54 and the shoulder 44 previously mentionedin order to cushion or diminish the sound produced by the vibration ofthe plate 54 in the sleeve 22.

Adjacent its lower end the plunger 18 is provided with acircumferentially extending groove 66 in which is received a seflingring 63. This ring resiliently engages the internal wall of the bore 16and serves to prevent any ingress of water or other material into thelower end of the bore 16 or any escape of a lubricant which might beprovided in the upper end of the bore for lubrication of having anupwardly 3 the plunger during reciprocating movement of the latter inthe bore.

As will be apparent from a comparison of Figures 1 and. 3, a heel capholder in the form of a fiat centrally apertured plate 76 ofsubstantially the same cross-sectional area and contour of the plungerit? is provided with an upstanding lip 72 slidable within a previouslysaid chamber having a central opening of greater diameter 7 than that ofsaid bore and communicating with the latter, 7

mentioned notch 40. As shown in Figure 1, this holder is adapted to betightly secured to the lower end of the plunger by means of a fasteningscrew 74 extending internally threaded bore 78 in'the lower end plunger.Depending from the bottom surface of the holder 70 are a pair ofknife-edge ridges or projections 80 adapted to press into the topsurfaceof the heel cap 82 which. is likewise apertured as at 84 toreceive the fastening screw 78, and thereby prevent rotation of the heelcap. a 7

It will be observed that the engagement of the upturned portion 72 onthe heel cap holder with the fiat side 46 of the plunger preventsrelative rotation between the holder and the plunger, while thenon-circular shape of.

the plunger and of the bore 16 likewise prevent rotation 'of theplunger. The depending ridges $43 in turn prevent 7 of the device.

Although the drawings and specification disclose a coil spring 58 as thepreferred means for yieldingly urging the plunger 18 downwardly, it isto be understood that, in some instances the use of other cushioningmeans such as a rubber plug may be advantageously employed as asubstitute for the spring 58.

' The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown and de-'scribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents maybe resorted'to, falling within the scope V of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A cushioned heel construction comprising an elongated body having achamber in its upper end and a bore connecting with saidchamber and'opening'upon the bottom surface of said body, a plunger slidablymounted in said bore, resilientmeans engaging said plunger andyieldinglyurging the latter downwardly in said bore, adjusting means insaid chamber for regulating said resilient means, access means in saidbody afiording access. to said chamber and said adjusting means, a heelcap holder on the bottom end of said plunger disposed beneath said body,a heel cap on said holder, said body extending notch in a side wallthereof. from its bottom surface, said holder having an'upturned flangeguidingly received in said notch -2.'The combination ofclaim 1 includinga sealing means disposed between said plungerand bore adjacent throughthe aperture 76 in the cap holder and into an of the the lower endthereof for preventing the ingress of matter into said bore and theescape of lubricant therefrom.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said bore and plunger havecomplementary fiat surfaces whereby to prevent relative rotation.

4. The combination of 'claim 1 including a sleeve in a laterallyprojecting plate on the upper end of said plunger slidable in saidcentral opening and engageable with the bottom thereof for limitingdownward movement of said plunger.- 7 V 5. The combination of claim lincluding a sleeve in said chamber having a central opening of greaterdiameter than that of said bore and communicating with the latter, 'alaterally projecting plate on the upper end of said plunger slidable insaid central opening and enable with the bottom thereof for limitingdownward gageable with the bottom thereof for limiting downward movementof said plunger, said resilient means comprising a spring in said sleeveengaging said plate.

6. The combination of claimlincluding a sleeve in said chamber shaving acentral opening of greater, diameter than that of said bore andcommunicating with the latter, a laterally projecting plate on the upperend of said plunger slidable in said central opening and en gageablewith the bottom thereof for limiting downward movement of said plunger,said resilient means comprising a spring in said sleeve engaging saidplate, said adjusting means comprising a plug threadedly engaging theupper end of said sleeve and engaging said spring;

7. The combination of claim 1 including a sleeve in said chamber havinga central opening of greater diam eter than that of said bore andcommunicatingwith the latter, a laterally projecting plate on the upper,end of said plunger'slidable in said central opening and engage.-

able with the bottom thereof for limiting downward movement of saidplunger, said resilient means comprising a spring in said sleeveengaging said plate, said adjusting means comprising a plug threadedlyengaging the upper end of said sleeveand engaging said spring, saidplate and said plug having projecting guide and V retaining bossesreceived within the ends of said spring.

8. The combination of claim l'including a sleeve in said chamber havinga centralopening of greater diameter than that of said bore andcommunicating with the latter, a laterally projecting plate on the upperend of said plunger slidable in said central opening and engagemovementof said plunger, said plate having a screwthreaded projection engaged ina screw threaded bore'in the upper end of said plunger.

latter, a, laterally projecting plate on the upper 'endof said plungerslidable in said central opening and engage able with the bottom thereoffor limiting downward movement of said plunger, a silencing gasketinterposed.

in said sleeve between said 7 plate and the bottom of said opening. i

10. The combination of claim '1 wherein said holder has ridges dependingfrom its bottom surface and engaging said heel cap for preventingrelative rotation.

No references cited.

